Nottingham Astronomy Rolling Grant 2011 - 2016
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Physics & Astronomy
Abstract
Astronomical research in the School of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Nottingham is focused on studying the formation and evolution of galaxies. These gravitationally-bound collections of stars, gas, dust and dark matter are some of the most beautiful objects in the Universe, and a major theme in modern astronomy involves trying to understand how they came into existence. To tackle this complex question, we will draw on the full range of tools at our disposal, involving everything from large-scale numerical simulations to detailed observational studies of individual galaxies using ground- and space-based observatories. One key issue is how galaxies, once formed, alter their appearance over time. For example, we are studying how spiral galaxies can turn into featureless lenticular systems, seeking to understand the physical process that quenches their star formation and erases their spiral arms. Similarly, we are exploring the processes by which the spectacular bar features at the centres of many spiral systems can appear and disappear, and what effect these changes have on the surrounding galaxy. We are investigating both internal and environmental processes that can change the appearance of a galaxy, to obtain an integrated picture of how galaxy transformations occur. Our work will combine detailed studies of nearby systems, searching for archaeological clues as to how they were made, and direct observations of evolution taking place over the last seven billion years in the history of the Universe. These studies of galaxies in transformation are complemented by observations of even more distant systems, which capture galaxies in the act of initial formation. Major puzzles remain unresolved at these early stages, such as the mechanism responsible for terminating star-formation in massive galaxies. We are tackling these problems with a two-pronged approach. First, surveys of unprecedented sensitivity allow us to determine the dependence of galaxy evolution on external factors, such as the local environment or the mass of the surrounding dark matter halo. Second, studies using the new instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope and on large ground-based telescopes allow the structural properties of individual galaxies near the beginnings of their lives to be dissected in detail. However, studying only visible and near-infrared light cannot provide a complete picture. About half the energy emitted by galaxies is absorbed by interstellar dust, concealing their true structure. Studying this 'stolen starlight,' which is re-radiated in the far infrared, reveals this hidden side of galaxy evolution. To-date, it has been impossible to understand this vital element of the story, as we have not been able to obtain the far-infrared observations that would recapture this lost light over a representative area of the sky. The Herschel Space Observatory, launched in 2009, now allows us to obtain the necessary data. The ATLAS survey, in which we are playing a leading role, is the widest area survey that Herschel will conduct, and will far surpass any other ground- or space-based survey in this part of the spectrum for many years to come. It will characterise the dust content and obscured star formation for ~200,000 galaxies spread over most of cosmic history, revealing the secrets of this hidden aspect of galaxy evolution. The final aspect to this research programme involves using the University's supercomputing facilities to simulate the formation of galaxies in the full cosmological context of the surrounding Universe. By comparing the results of such simulations with the extensive observational programmes, we will be able to check our understanding of the physical processes driving galaxy evolution. We will also use the observations of the earliest epochs to set the initial conditions for our simulations, to see whether we can follow galaxies' subsequent evolution to the present-day.
Organisations
- University of Nottingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- European Southern Observatory (ESO) (Collaboration)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- ASTRON Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (Collaboration)
- Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III) (Collaboration)
- University of St Andrews (Collaboration)
- CARDIFF UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Techspace Aero (TA) (Collaboration)
- Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) (Collaboration)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- University of Sussex (Collaboration)
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Carnegie Mellon University (Collaboration)
- European Space Agency (Collaboration)
- Dark Energy Survey (DES) (Collaboration)
- University of Canterbury (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY (Collaboration)
Publications

Agius N
(2013)
GAMA/H-ATLAS: linking the properties of submm detected and undetected early-type galaxies - I. z = 0.06 sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Agius N
(2015)
H-ATLAS/GAMA and HeViCS - dusty early-type galaxies in different environments
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Alpaslan M
(2015)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): trends in galaxy colours, morphology, and stellar populations with large-scale structure, group, and pair environments
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Baldry I
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the galaxy stellar mass function at z < 0.06 GAMA: the galaxy stellar mass function
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Banfield J
(2015)
Radio Galaxy Zoo: host galaxies and radio morphologies derived from visual inspection
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Barnard L
(2014)
The Solar Stormwatch CME catalogue: Results from the first space weather citizen science project
in Space Weather

Bassett R
(2013)
CANDELS OBSERVATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPENDENCE OF THE COLOR-MASS-MORPHOLOGY RELATION AT z = 1.6
in The Astrophysical Journal

Bauer A
(2013)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): linking star formation histories and stellar mass growth
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Bauer A
(2011)
Star formation in a stellar mass-selected sample of galaxies to z= 3 from the GOODS-NICMOS Survey Star formation in the GOODS-NICMOS Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Becker G
(2015)
Evidence of patchy hydrogen reionization from an extreme Lya trough below redshift six
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | We have carried out a significant body of research on the formation and evolution of galaxies. These gravitationally-bound collections of stars, gas, dust and dark matter are some of the most beautiful objects in the Universe, and a major theme in modern astronomy involves trying to understand how they came into existence. We have used large-scale numerical simulations and detailed observational studies of many individual galaxies using ground- and space-based observatories, and gained considerable insight on how galaxies, once formed, alter their appearance over time. We have learned how spiral galaxies can turn into featureless lenticular systems, understanding the physical processes that quench their star formation and erases their spiral arms. Our work combined detailed studies of nearby systems, searching for archaeological clues as to how they were made, and direct observations of evolution taking place over the last seven billion years in the history of the Universe. We have made significant progress towards understanding the mechanism responsible for terminating star-formation in massive galaxies. We have also studied in detail the role of dust in galaxy formation and evolution. |
Exploitation Route | Our findings help our team and the extragalactic astronomy community in general to advance in our knowledge of how galaxies form and evolve in a cosmological framework. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Other |
Description | Overview The Nottingham Astronomy Group has a strong established track record in delivering impact derived from its research, drawing on the pathways developed at Group, School and University level. This impact spans the range from public outreach to commercial knowledge exchange, although in many cases the boundaries between these categories are blurred. For example, the outreach work we have carried out through YouTube has led to contracts with STFC and Google to deliver further material using the same approach. We have a policy of embedding such work in the day-to-day activities of the Group, and of involving members at all levels from PhD student to professorial. For the period of this grant, our intention is to exploit the pathways that we have already established, while taking opportunities to develop these ideas further as well as seeking entirely new approaches to delivering the wider impact of our research. Outreach The Group delivers an extensive programme of outreach activities, which we are continuing to develop. We undertake the conventional astronomical society lectures (typically a few dozen per year), and are also major contributors to a monthly public lecture series in the University that we set up for the International Year of Astronomy, and then rolled out as an on-going programme that we have now broadened to include other areas of science. We also participate in public events such as Big Bang Science (London, Nottingham & Birmingham), the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, University of Nottingham Mayfest, Nottingham Light Night and BBC Stargazing Live, etc. However, we recognized that some of these activities are rather restrictive in terms of both the size and the demographic profile of the audience that they reach, so we are actively developing a range of outreach delivery mechanisms that have a wider and more ambitious scope. In particular, we would highlight: Regular Engagement with Broadcast Media. As well as placing individual stories through press releases and media contacts (e.g., Grey and Aragón-Salamanca on DES first light on the BBC News Channel, Bamford on Austrian and German television discussing Galaxy Zoo), we are developing more sustainable long-term media interactions that allow us to build a larger regular audience. For example, Merrifield has a monthly hour-long slot on BBC Radio Nottingham to discuss recent developments in astronomical research. In addition, our PhD students set up "The Science Show" on the University radio station, whose podcast receives thousands of downloads per year in addition to the live audience, and the astronomy staff regularly participate in the show. The programme won a bronze award in Best Journalistic Programme category at the Student Radio Association Awards 2012. The Inflativerse. In an initiative proposed and entirely led by our postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, with senior academic staff acting only as mentors, we obtained £20k of funding from the University to purchase an inflatable planetarium. We also won knowledge transfer funding from the University to support one of our postdocs for three months to develop this initiative alongside his research. After a suitable programme of external child protection training as well as internal presentation training, our postdocs and students take the planetarium out and deliver shows, accompanied by other astronomy-related activities, to local schools, specifically targeting those that meet the University's widening participation criteria. With a weekly timetable and an on-going scheme to train new presenters, this programme continues to deliver astronomical outreach to more than 2000 disadvantaged children per year. Citizen Science. With Bamford working as the Science Director of the Citizen Science Alliance (CSA), and other members of the Group involved in producing and delivering material for their programmes, we have a strong involvement in the citizen science movement. The programmes Bamford has helped to oversee have engaged over a million people worldwide, with involvement in real scientific research ranging from discovering exoplanets to monitoring wildlife on the Serengeti (http://www.zooniverse.org). He has played a particular role in developing the Galaxy Zoo activities, which bring his work on galaxy morphology to a wide audience. He also has responsibility for overseeing the scientific impact of the range of projects under the CSA umbrella, so closes the loop on this activity by coordinating the transformation of outreach back into professional published scientific research. YouTube Engagement. In collaboration with video journalist Brady Haran, we have developed several extremely successful series of YouTube videos, which present both broader discussion of interesting topics in astronomy, but also specific explanations of our research as it is published. The approach adopted is to engage the viewer with both the science being presented and the daily life of the researchers undertaking it, so that a long-term relationship is established with the audience. The first channel that we played a major role in creating is called Sixty Symbols (http://youtube.com/sixtysymbols), which presented physics and astronomy themed around a particular symbol. This channel currently has more than 180,000 subscribers and the 200 videos have been viewed more than 16 million times. Following from the phenomenal success of this channel, Brady was approached by Google (who own YouTube) to develop new ideas, and we collaborated with him to create Deep Sky Videos (http://youtube.com/deepskyvideos) that looks at astronomical objects, concentrating initially on the Messier Catalogue, and again drawing on our research activities on these objects. This channel has also been a success, with more than 70,000 subscribers and more than two million views of the 79 videos produced to-date. We commissioned an independent study to look at the demographics of the audience for these channels, and found that they span a very wide range of ages and backgrounds. Feedback through the channels' comment sections and email also indicates the profound effect that these videos have had on some viewers' interest and even career aspirations. We have recently secured HEIF funding to support these channels for a further two years, as well as obtaining funding from ESO to make videos in Chile in 2013. Knowledge Exchange Outreach-Related Knowledge Exchange. Given the nature of our work and the breadth of the above outreach activities, it is perhaps unsurprising that part of our knowledge exchange programme involves passing on experience in this area. We have directly commercialized some outreach material through the establishment of a spin-out company, Crystal Nebulae (http://www.crystalnebulae.co.uk; see STFC Innovations Newsletter, October 2012), which sells glass sculptures of astronomical objects accompanied by educational literature, and we continue to seek analogous opportunities to commercialize our research. However, our main achievement in this area has been in transferring the skills we have developed in presenting scientific material on YouTube in an accessible manner. The funding of Deep Sky Videos by Google falls within this category, as does the Group's success in winning £70k of support from STFC competitively against commercial production companies to produce videos presenting STFC's varied facilities and their uses, in an initiative entitled Backstage Science (http://youtube.com/backstagescience). The success of this channel led STFC to fund further work to produce the current set of 45 videos. Commercial Knowledge Exchange. Where appropriate, we are also keen to seek the wider application of techniques developed here within industry. Specifically, Pearce's work running smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH) cosmological simulations means that he has acquired extensive skill in setting up and managing very large fluid dynamic simulations on supercomputers, and these leading-edge skills are in much demand in an engineering context. To develop a pathway to transfer this knowledge, we have been involved in an EU Framework 7 programme, Engine Lubrication System, ELUBSYS, which is led by Rolls Royce. This programme currently employs a PDRA and a PhD student in the University Faculty of Engineering, who are working in the cross-faculty Water Modelling Group that Pearce has established for this purpose. As a further application to broaden the engineering impact, we have also developed contacts with Ambiental, a company that specializes in modelling flood management. The engineering SPH community is coordinated by a European special interest group, SPHERIC, of which the University is a member. SPHERIC has an annual meeting which attracts several hundred researchers from around the World, and produce an annual status book. We have attended several of these meetings and published associated articles in the status books as the most effective mechanism for sharing knowledge, and we will continue to pursue this route as well as seeking new commercial opportunities as they arise. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Environment,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Other |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | STFC Astronomy Consolidated Grants |
Amount | £804,113 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/L000695/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 03/2017 |
Title | Applications of Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics |
Description | Pearce's work running smooth particle hydrodynamic (SPH) cosmological simulations means that he has acquired extensive skill in setting up and managing very large fluid dynamic simulations on supercomputers, and these leading-edge skills are in much demand in an engineering context. To develop a pathway to transfer this knowledge, we have been involved in an EU Framework 7 programme, Engine Lubrication System, ELUBSYS, which is led by Rolls-Royce. This programme currently employs a PDRA and a PhD student in the University Faculty of Engineering, who are working in the cross-faculty Water Modelling Group that Pearce has established for this purpose. As a further application to broaden the engineering impact, we have also developed contacts with Ambiental, a company that specializes in modelling flood management. The engineering SPH community is coordinated by a European special interest group, SPHERIC, of which the University is a member. SPHERIC has an annual meeting which attracts several hundred researchers from around the World, and produce an annual status book. |
Type Of Material | Data handling & control |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Development of Engine Lubrication Systems, Flood management modelling. |
Description | Automated Measurement of Galaxy Formation |
Organisation | Carnegie Mellon University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific research collaboration Postdoctoral training |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific research collaboration Postdoctoral training Financial contribution |
Impact | Scientific publications |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | CAASTRO - ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics |
Organisation | University of Sydney |
Department | Sydney Institute for Astronomy |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Papers |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | CANDELS Survey |
Organisation | University of California, Santa Cruz |
Department | Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific papers |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Comograil |
Organisation | Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Scientific research collaboration and expertise |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific research collaboration and expertise |
Impact | Scientific papers |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | CosmoComp |
Organisation | Durham University |
Department | Institute for Computational Cosmology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration Postdoctoral training |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration Postdoctoral training Financial contribution |
Impact | Scientific papers Postdoctoral training PhD student training |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | DES - Dark Energy Survey |
Organisation | Dark Energy Survey (DES) |
Country | Global |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration Financial Contribution |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Publications PhD Student Training |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | EDisCS - ESO Distant Cluster Survey |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Astronomy |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Papers |
Description | ELUBSYS, engine lubrication systems |
Organisation | Techspace Aero (TA) |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Scientific and Technical Expertise |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific and Technical Expertise |
Impact | The development of design rules in terms of housing architecture, heat management and associated external equipments that will lead to the implementation of advanced seals in aircraft engine lubrication systems. A simplified architecture for engine lubrication systems that results in fewer components and reduced mass. A set of design rules describing the way to develop more efficient bearing chambers, vent and scavenge pipes, seals and other external elements of the lubrication system; these rules will be derived from a combined effort of experimentation and advanced modelling techniques. Accurate methods and rules to predict heat transfer from the hot engine parts inside the lubrication system with a particular emphasis on bearing chambers. Accurate design rules for the design of external system (pipes, pumps) compliant with advanced housing architectures incorporating tight seals. Validated methods to predict and detect oil coking. Multidisciplinary: Physics and Engineering. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | EUCLID |
Organisation | European Space Agency |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Scientific exploitation of data Computational support |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific exploitation of data |
Impact | Scientific publications Space science |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | GAMA - Galaxy and Mass Assembly |
Organisation | University of St Andrews |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Papers |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Galaxy Zoo |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Astrophysics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Papers Citizens Science |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | HerMES - Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey |
Organisation | University of Sussex |
Department | School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Sussex |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Papers |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Herschel ATLAS - Cardiff |
Organisation | University of Canterbury |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Herschel ATLAS - NZ |
Organisation | Cardiff University |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Papers |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | IMars |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | Mullard Space Science Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific research collaboration Scientific and technical expertise Research activity |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific and technical expertise Research activity |
Impact | Scientific papers Multi-disciplinary: Astronomy, Geophysics, Computing |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | ING Co-supervision of Bruno Rodriguez |
Organisation | Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING) |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaborative research and student co-supervision |
Collaborator Contribution | Marc Balcells, director of ING, co-supervises PhD student Bruno Rodirguez. |
Impact | Student attendance to the XXIII Canary Islands Winter School of Astrophysics, organized by the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC), November 2011, "The secular evolution of Galaxies" |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | LOFAR - Low-Frequency Array |
Organisation | ASTRON Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration Financial Contribution |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Publications |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Lacegal - Latin American Chinese European GALaxy Formation network. |
Organisation | Durham University |
Department | Institute for Computational Cosmology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration Training of Researchers Financial contribution |
Impact | Scientific Papers Training of Researchers |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Planetary Nebula Spectrograph |
Organisation | European Southern Observatory (ESO) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration, financial contribution |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific papers |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | SDSS-IV/MaNGA |
Organisation | Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III) |
Department | Astrophysical Research Council |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Financial contribution. Scientific expertise. Research activity. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to observing facilities. Access to new survey data. Scientific expertise. Research activity. |
Impact | This is a very recent activity. No outputs so far, but the main outputs will be scientific papers. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | UKIDSS |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | Institute for Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific research collaboration and expertise |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific research collaboration and expertise |
Impact | Scientific papers |
Description | UKIRT Hemisphere Survey |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific collaboration and expertise |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific collaboration and expertise |
Impact | Scientific papers |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Virgo Consortium |
Organisation | Durham University |
Department | Institute for Computational Cosmology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scietific Research Collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Scietific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Scientific Papers |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | WFIRST - Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | Goddard Space Flight Center |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Science definition |
Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research Collaboration |
Impact | Space Science |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Citizen Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | see http://www.zooniverse.org Active engagement of the public in scientific activities via the Internet, Reaching hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
URL | http://www.zooniverse.org |
Description | Outreach - Engagement with Broadcast Media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press releases (Dark Energy Survey first light- BBC News Channel; Galaxy Zoo - German Television) Monthly hour-long radio show (BBC Radio Nottingham) Science Show (Nottingham University Radio Station) PUS Public engagement |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Outreach - Large public events |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public engagement - Large Audiences Public engagement Youg Scientist engagement STEM Undergraduate Recruitment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Outreach - Talks to Astronomical Societies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Multiple talks to Astronomical and other Scientific Societies Public Engagement |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Outreach - Talks to secondary schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Talks to multiple secundary schools Student engagement, STEM undergraduate recruitment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Outreach - talks to primary schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Multiple astronomy talks to schools Student engagement |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | The Inflativerse |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Initiative proposed and run by PhD students and PDRAs to bring an Inflatable Planetarium to schools and public events, and to invite schools to the University of Nottingham and other public venues, Funding: GBP 20000 from the University of Nottingham. Public Engagement. It reaches more than 2000 disadvantaged children per year (focus on Widening Participation schools) and many members of the public. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014 |
URL | http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/astronomy/planetarium/The_Inflativerse/Home.html |
Description | YouTube Engagement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In collaboration with video journalist Brady Haran, we have developed several extremely successful series of YouTube videos, which present both broader discussion of interesting topics in astronomy but also specific explanations of our research as it is published. The approach adopted is to engage the viewer with both the science being presented and the daily life of the researchers undertaking it, so that a long-term relationship is established with the audience. The first channel that we played a major role in creating is called Sixty Symbols (http://youtube.com/sixtysymbols), which presented physics and astronomy themed around a particular symbol (such as OP for a discussion of Merrifield's work on measuring pattern speeds in galaxies). This channel currently has more than 180,000 subscribers and the 200 videos have been viewed more than 16 million times. Following from the phenomenal success of this channel, Brady was approached by Google (who own YouTube) to develop new ideas, and we collaborated with him to create Deep Sky Videos (http://youtube.com/deepskyvideos) that looks at astronomical objects, concentrating initially on the Messier Catalogue, and again drawing on our research activities on these objects. This channel has also been a success, with more than 70,000 subscribers and more than two million views of the 79 videos produced to-date. We commissioned an independent study to look at the demographics of the audience for these channels, and found that they span a very wide range of ages and backgrounds. Feedback through the channels' comment sections and email also indicates the profound effect that these videos have had on some viewers' interest and even career aspirations. We have recently secured HEIFf unding to support these channels for a further two years, as well as obtaining funding from ESO to make videos in Chile later in 2013. Reaching very large worldwide audiences. Producing educational YouTube-based videos |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/user/sixtysymbols |